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RealBand
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 68
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OP
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Posts: 68 |
As you can see my poor old trusty notebook (specs below) is struggling to run many tracks especially when I add effects
I'm gonna keep it for gigs (BIAB backtrax) and invest in a new desktop for my studio
Any advice on a powerful desktop that will grow with me?
I am very quality conscious
Intel® Core™2 Quad Q8400, 2.66 GHz. 4 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB, 8MB DDR3 DRAM. HDs 1320MB Win7 64bit. BB2010.ver 304 Reaper DAW. Melodyne Editor
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RealBand
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Assuming a name brand vendor (such as HP or Dell, etc) I would buy the fastest processor I could afford, but with the least amount of memory and smallest hard drive they have. I would then order the memory hard drive space I wanted from somewhere like newegg.com.
I remember when I bought my HP, it came standard with 2GB RAM. I wanted 4GB RAM. HP wanted something like $200 to increase from 2GB to 4GB. Instead, I took the 2GB box, went to NewEgg and purchased 4GB for about $80 and it's worked great ever since. I took the $120 savings and purchased the sound card I wanted. I think for hard drives, I ended up expanding my disk space for about half of what HP wanted to charge.
But that's just me and I have no problem rooting around inside the computer case.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,992
Expert
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Expert
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,992 |
plotzie.
see my tips in the tips n triks section.
lotsa info. save me retyping lots plus i'm not well. . flu.
retired puter engr....powertracks on amd......NICE !
"what is the black art of audio engineering ?"
my silly songs...motagator.com/bmanning
see my tips in the tips section.
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RealBand
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,808
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I always build my own. If you buy all the parts at the same place and not some off beat stuff it is really easy. The last one has ran like a champ for 7 years.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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RealBand
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,199
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Try Newegg for this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/NewProduct.aspx?Item=N82E16883107984That is a quad core AMD processor, with tons of RAM and a 750GB hard drive. You can add a 500GB hard drive for about $70. The power supply is 300 watt no name, and I would recommend upgrading that to something a little more powerful, say a 500 watt or something in that range. No PCI slots, so if you have a PCI sound card, don't buy this. It has only PCI-e, on x16 for graphics and 2 or three x1 for everything else. Asus makes the Xonar D2X sound card which has PCI-e. There are really only three manufacturers of computer sound cards that support PCI-e, and that's Creative, Asus and AuzenTech, and AuzenTech still uses Creative chips. I like my Asus card, it offers 7.1, coaxial and optical digital ins and outs. It is expensive, however. If you're going to go Firewire <shudders> or USB <semi-shudder> then you should be pretty well off, as far as your audio interface goes. If you're planning on gaming on this system, it'll support lower end games, WoW, Second Life, Sims, but if you want to run COD4, Crysis, etc., you're going to need to do a major upgrade to the video system. Or, if you don't mind building your own, you can start here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.311917...and work your way down.  If you're handy with a screwdriver, and know your way around the inside of a computer, you might try something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.319352You'll still need some extras, like a CPU cooling fan: I like Zalman. http://www.newegg.com/Product/NewProduct.aspx?Item=N82E16835118056You'll need a video card, but for audio only, and not gaming, that's not a huge issue: http://www.newegg.com/Product/NewProduct.aspx?Item=N82E16814102843Something like that would be a good, general video card, if you want to go blow up some people when you're not making music. Finally, you'll need an OS. http://www.newegg.com/Product/NewProduct.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754Your choice on 32 bit or 64 bit, but 64 bit takes advantage of everything in that package. Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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RealBand
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 42
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Posts: 42 |
There are so many choices out there... If you want to shop for systems that are pre-packaged for music apps, check out musiciansfriend.com http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/computers-peripheralsIf you are going with components, another good place to shop is tigerdirect.com. They also have everything from bare bones systems to top of the line gaming machines. Usually they are pretty competitive. Good luck.
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RealBand
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,199
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Joined: Jan 2002
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Of course, the other issue is that our OP lives in Johannasburg, South Africa. Somehow I don't think either Newegg or Musician's Friend is delivering there.
However, the stuff that we've posted can at least be an example of what we might suggest.
Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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RealBand
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 68
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 68 |
Thanks guys for your valued advice. I have purchased an HP with 3 year 24hr response onsite warranty
Processor type Intel® Core™2 Quad Q8400 Processor
• 2.66 GHz, 4 MB L2 cache, 1333 MHz front side bus (with Win 7 64bit) I'll soon upgrade to 8 mb
I got this at a Ridiculous price. Also a 20"LCD monitor
I'm gonna run my Compaq notebook at gigs with BIAB 2010
Thanx again
Intel® Core™2 Quad Q8400, 2.66 GHz. 4 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB, 8MB DDR3 DRAM. HDs 1320MB Win7 64bit. BB2010.ver 304 Reaper DAW. Melodyne Editor
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,992
Expert
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Expert
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,992 |
plotzie as soon as you get your new system run dpc latency checker on it n strip stuff out that might cause red spikes. http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtmlalso spend an extra 70 buks and install a second drive 7200 rpm with 32 mb cache as a dedicated recording drive. thats what i would do.
retired puter engr....powertracks on amd......NICE !
"what is the black art of audio engineering ?"
my silly songs...motagator.com/bmanning
see my tips in the tips section.
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RealBand
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 68
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 68 |
Txs a mill. I have just downloaded the latency checker and I already have a Seagate USB 500gb HDD. What do you mean by "dedicated recording drive"?
My new PC will only be used for BB/RB/Reaper etc. No games or mail etc
Intel® Core™2 Quad Q8400, 2.66 GHz. 4 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB, 8MB DDR3 DRAM. HDs 1320MB Win7 64bit. BB2010.ver 304 Reaper DAW. Melodyne Editor
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RealBand
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,808
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Sometimes it is a good idea to have a second drive on the system so you can store all the audio and midi data there. This leave the primary drive to run the programs, and allows it to stream the music files from the second drive. If the mother board has two drive busses, and most do this helps out the process.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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RealBand
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 68
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 68 |
Thax all for valued advice. As you can see I have my new gear up and running. Not one error (BB,RB M-Audio Fast track pro) All on Win 7 64 bit
Regards
Plotzie
Intel® Core™2 Quad Q8400, 2.66 GHz. 4 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB, 8MB DDR3 DRAM. HDs 1320MB Win7 64bit. BB2010.ver 304 Reaper DAW. Melodyne Editor
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
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Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
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